The other day in my Literature class the teacher asked a simple question, “How many of you read for pleasure?” An overwhelming five people raised their hand… five people. There are probably forty people in that class, and only FIVE of them raised their hand when asked if they enjoyed reading. How sad, I thought. I love reading. However, then I thought again, I couldn’t even remember the last book that I read for fun. I have become so busy with school, sports, homework, and technology that I fail to make time to read for pleasure. Why do so many students across the US, including me, rarely read for pleasure?

According to Time, the percentage of students who read for fun has declined significantly over the past 30 years. A study conducted in 1984 revealed that  “8% of 13-year-olds and 9% of 17-year-olds said they “never” or “hardly ever” read for pleasure.” A similar study was taken in 2014 and found that number had almost tripled, “22% of 13-year-olds and 27% of 17-year-olds said they “never” or “hardly ever” read for pleasure.” Today, an astounding 45% of 17-year-olds say they only read once or twice a year.

Nowadays, it’s rare to stumble across a teen who consistently reads for fun, but who cares? Why is reading so important?

1. Reading makes you smarter, it introduces new topics and opinions and gives you a chance to consume huge amounts of new information in a shorter amount of time than taking a course. Heavy readers tend to display greater knowledge of how things work and who or what people are.
2. Reading improves your focus and concentration. It forces you to commit your undivided attention into a story, blocking out all distractions.
3. As cliche as it sounds, reading transports you places. Reading improves your imagination and allows you to create an individualized image in your instead of having the image created for you, such as when you watch television.
4. It reduces stress. Mindlab International at the University of Sussex performed a study where they increased subjects stress levels to find which method was best for reducing stress. Reading trumped listening to music, playing video games, exercising, and even settling down with a cup of tea.
5. It improves memory. Reading gives your brain more of a “workout” than processing images or speech. When you workout your muscles they become stronger, the same applies to your brain. Reading gives you more time to think, and eventually, improves your memory.  

The idea of reading sounds great, but for most people, it is difficult to get in the habit of reading, especially in our busy worlds. In order to get into the habit of reading, it might be beneficial to dedicate some time everyday to reading, find a quiet place without distractions, read fun books that you enjoy, and find some friends that are willing to read with you so you can share the love of a book with someone. If you’re looking for something to read, see Maria Mettler’s story on the best books to read in 2017.

Just remember: “There is no such thing as a person who hates to read; there are only people who haven’t found the right book” (Frank Serafini).

Sources:

“8 Reasons Why Reading Is So Important.” Inspiration Boost RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

2009, 7:00AM BST 30 Mar. “Reading ‘can Help Reduce Stress’.” The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

“We’re All Doomed: Kids Reading For Fun Less Than Ever.” Time. Time, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.